Photographic-printing machine



Dec. 3, 1929. w. A. FLOWER PHOTOGHAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18,1927 4 Sheets-Sheet iii/12 7010 Dec. 3, 1929. w. A. FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHICPRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet iii g /5 W LA WWW :lu 11W 22 amen-tot W11 .j lazl'afi Dec. 3, 1929. w. A. FLOWER 1,737,955

\ PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Dec. 3, 1929. w. A. FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18,1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qvwewtoz aifowu o,

Patented Dec. 3, 1929 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. FLOWER, or TWIN FALLS,IDAHO PHOTOGRAPHIC-IPRINTING MACHINE Application filed February 18,1927.

This invention relates to a machine for printing photographs fromnegatives, one of the objects being to provide a structure of thischaracter the print supporting surface of which is arranged at such anangle as to allow the prints to be delivered by gravity after" theprinting operation, thereby greatly speeding up the quantity productionof photographs.

A further object is to provide a film holding device which can beoperated by a foot pedal, means being employedin connection with theplaten of the machine for stamping each print when brought to properposition upon the ne ative.

ith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement ofparts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed machine.

Figure 2 is aplanview on an enlarged scale ef the inclined face of thelight box and the partscarried thereby.

Figure 3 isa section on line 33, Figure 2,

' one position'of the platen being shown by full lines and anotherposition being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 4: is a section on line H, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Figure 2.

' Figuredis a section on line 6--6, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a portion of a modified form of the machine,the platen being broken away to show the form of film holder used.

r FigureS is a section on line 88, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a section through a portion of the filmholder, said sectionbeing on the line 9--9,-Fi gure- 8.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1* designates alight box,.the lamp Serial No. 169,253.

therein (not shown) being included in a circuit with a fixed contact 2and a movable or spring contact 3 both of which are located on theinclined portion 4 of the top of the box. This inclined portion has anopening 5 therein covered by a glass light 6 the upper surface of whichis flush with the corresponding surface of the box. Adjacent the upperside of the opening 5' is a guide strip 7 fixedly connected to the boxand arranged on the box adjacent one side of the opening 5 is a crossstrip 8 which can be mounted at its ends on supporting blocks 9. Aplaten consisting of hingedly connected members 10 and 11 is adapted toextend over the opening 5, there being a hinge leaf 12 projecting beyondone side edge of the platen and hingedly attached as at 13 to the strip8. The lower or active face of each member of the platen is providedwith a soft covering 14 of felt or the like and an arm 15 is extendedfrom the free side edge of the platen to a point where it can come intocontact with the movable contact 3 so as to force it against the contact2 when the platen is in normal or closed position. The platen is adaptedto be operated by means of a handle 16 and relative move'mentof the twomembers of the platen can be limited by a stop bracket 17 carried by oneof the members.

Arranged on the inclined top of the light i:

box beneath the hinge leaf 12 and between the platen member 10 and theblock' 9' is a clamping strip 18 the ends of which are mounted inchanneled guide brackets 19 secured to the light Springs 20 are seatedin recesses 21 in the clamping strip 18 adjacent the ends thereof andserve to hold said strip normally spaced a short distance from theinclined upper surface of the light box. A rod 22 is slidablewithin thetop of the'light box and within each spring 20 and is connected to theupper surface of the strip 18. To each of these rods 22 is attached acord 23 or the like, the said cords being inturn connected to a pullcord 24' mounted on a guide sheave 25. The pull' cord- 24; is extendedto a foot pedal 26. Obviously, therefore, when the pedal is shifted outof normal position the strip 18 will be'pulled toward the top of thelight box against the action of the Springs 20 so as to clamp upon anegative extending under the strip. To facilitate this clamping action astrip of any suitable material indicated at 27 can be fastened alongthat face of the clampin strip 18 nearest the opening 5, this strip 2%having a longitudinal flange 28 for bearing against the negative.

A bracket 29 is mounted on the member 10 of the laten close to onecorner thereof nearest the inge 13, said corner being cut away as shownat 30 so as to receive the lower end of an adjustable rubber stam 31 orother suitable impression device. he impression device illustrated issupported at one side of the bracket 29 and is pivotally connectedthereto. A link 32 is pivotally connected to the upper ortion of theimpression device and is sli ably mounted in a bracket 33 mounted on thetop of the light box. An ink pad 34 is arranged on the light box at apoint where it will be engaged by the impression surface of the stampingor printing device when the platen is moved upwardly and laterally awayfrom the opening 5 as shown by broken lines in Figure 3. The impressiondevice is so located with reference to the hinge 13, however, that whenthe platen is moved to active position, the impression surface willcontact with the back of a print supported beneath the laten.

A guide ro 35 is extended along two guides of the inclined portion ofthe top of the light box and parallel with two sides of the opening 5.On one portion of this rod is mounted an opaque mat 36 and anotheropaque mat 37 is mounted on another portion of the red, the two matsbeing disposed at right angles to each other and crossed.

A counter indicated generally at 38 can be located on the light box nearthe opening 5, this counter being provided with the usual operating arm35. A finger 40 extending from the platen is adapted to engage anddepress arm 87 each time the platen is lowered to active position. v

In practice the mats 36 and 37 are adjusted relative to each other todefine an opening of the size of the picture to be printed. The platenis swu upwardly and laterally to expose the glass ight 6. T ereafter thenegative is inserted under the clamping strip 8 to position along theguide strip 7 and upon the mats 36 and 37. This negative has beenindicated N in the drawing. The operator then depresses the pedal 26which causes the negative to be clamped as heretofore explained.Thereafter the sensitized paper is placed on the negative and theplaten'moved downwardly to clamp the paper upon the negative. Thismovement of the platen will produce three operations, namely theprinting of a designatin number or the like on the back of the paper, te closing of the circuit through the contacts 2 and 3, and the actuationof the counter 38. The resultant illumination of the light box willproduce the desired printing of the photograph and thereafter the platenis raised to break the circuit, release the print, and reapply theimpression device to the ink pad 34. By releasing strip 18 the grippednegative will be released and a new one can then be brought to position.

Instead of providing the film holding means illustrated in Figures 1 to6 inclusive a modified structure such as illustrated in F i res 7, 8 and9 may be employed. In this mo ified structure an angular film holder 41is extended along the upper'edge and one side edge of the opening 42 inthe top 43 of the box, the upper portion of this holder being connectedto the top 43 by hinges 44. Gripping tongues 45 are extended laterallyfrom a strip 46 attached to the side portion of the film holder, thesetongues being designed to engage and grip a film when properly placedunder the holder. An arm 47 is secured to and extends from the sideportion of the holder and has a projecting portion which is normallythrust upwardly by a spring 48 as shown particularly in Figure 8. Anactuating cord 49 or the llke can be connected to the arm 47 andextended downwardl through the to 43. By actuating this cor the arm 47(38.11%9 ulled downwardly so as to swing the film older upwardly a shortdistance. Thus a film can readily be inserted under the holder. When thecord 49 is released the holder will move automatically into filmengaging position so as to hold the film firmly.

Secured to the top 43 adjacent one end of the upper portion of the filmholder 41 is a bracket 50 provided with an arm 51 arallel with the sideof the opening 42. To t 's arm is secured the leaf 52 of a hinge, theother leaf of said hinge being attached to the platen 53 which can be ofthe same construction as the ones shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive.This platen can also be provided with the same marking means heretoforedescribed the ink ing pad forming a part thereof being indi'-- cated at54 and being mounted on the bracket 50. As the bracket arm 51 iselevated above the top 4 a clearance is left below the hinge leaf 52 sothat the insertion and removal of a film will not be interfered with.

What is claimed is:

1. A photograph printing machine including a light box having anopening, means for supporting a negative across the opening, normallycrossed mats hingedly and slidable connected to the light box foradjustment to a supported negative, a cross strip su ported by butspaced from the light box a jacent the negative supporting means, aplaten hingedly connected to the cross strip for clamping a negative tothe supporting means and holding a sensitized sheet to the negative,there being a space between the light box and the cross strip for thereception of a negative slidable along the light box to position on thesupporting means, a yieldingly supported clamping member adjacent thecross strip and beneath the platen, and means actuated from beneath thelight box for actuating the clamping strip to bind the negative and holdit against movement relative to the light box.

2. A photograph printing machine including a light box having anopening, means for supporting a negative across the opening, normallycrossed mats movably connected to the light box for adjustment to asupported negative, a cross member supported by but spaced from thelight box adjacent the negative supporting means, a platen movablymounted for clamping a negative to the supporting means and holding asensitized sheet to the negative, there being a space between the lightbox and said cross member for the reception of a negative slidable alongthe light box to position on the supporting means, a yieldinglysupported clamping member adjacent the cross member and beneath theplaten, and means for actuating the clamping member to bind the negativeand hold it against movement relative to the light box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature.

WILLIAM A. FLOWER.

